Join the Squirrels
We laugh. We sweat. We work our butts off. We juggle. And we eat.
Are you great at multi-tasking, can you work well in a cooperative environment, do you love great food, and are you looking for a job? Flying Squirrel is a fun place to work with a positive, detail-oriented work environment, wonderful food, and a community feel where everyone is working as a team toward the same goals. The busiest summer months also include plenty of stress and sweat (yes, it gets HOT in Alaska, especially in a busy bakery), constructive criticism, and controlled chaos in probably the same doses found in many other busy restaurants.
We offer competitive hourly wages depending on experience - $15 per hour and up, overtime during summer months, equitable tipping policy, shift meal, staff discount, end of season bonus, longevity discount, and paid personal/vacation time. Not to mention valuable restaurant/bakery experience in one of the most beautiful places on the planet!
We are experimenting with affordable housing options reserved for those who cannot secure something appropriate in the area (2 campers on the Squirrel property with nearby bath/shower room). The Talkeetna area has a wide variety of rental options from glorified camping and dry cabins, to shared houses, 3 bedroom homes and everything in between and we do our best to help guide new hires toward appropriate lodging opportunities. We have never had any summer employees unable to find local housing options.
Current Open Positions
Flying Squirrel is accepting applications! We are always looking for dependable, committed, happy, hard working folks that care deeply about doing a great job, making and serving great food, and maintaining Flying Squirrel's excellent reputation. If there are no current openings, we will keep your application and contact you if something changes and we need more help.
We have 5+ full and part time year round staff. During summer, it takes 15-18 full and part time employees to keep up with visitors and residents who frequent the Squirrel! Summer season preferred commitment is May 1 to mid-September for most positions. Experience is preferred but not required, especially with your excellent work ethic, maturity, dependability, sense of humor, positive, energetic attitude and cooperative nature.
In addition to producing creative, healthful, deli style breakfast and lunch, artisan breads and pastries and wood fired pizzas, we are always working to make business choices that reflect our care for the community and the planet. Please take a look around our website and see if you think you might be a good fit for one of these positions!
Interviews are ongoing for Summer 2025 employment and include:
- FRONT COUNTER/BARISTA/SERVERS (both 21+ and high school/college students)
- PART TIME OR FULL TIME BREAD & PASTRY BAKERS
- COOK/PREP COOK/PIZZA COOK
- DISHWASHER/BUSSER/ALL AROUND KITCHEN HELPER
To apply, fill out our online application as completely as possible,
particularly the section about what skills you have and specific reasons you want to work in Talkeetna and at Flying Squirrel. Feel free to attach your resume as well.
Lead Bread & Pastry Baker - POSITION OPEN UNTIL FILLED
Flying Squirrel Bakery Café in Talkeetna, Alaska is searching for a year-round, full-time lead baker. We produce artisan breads in an Alan Scott wood fired brick oven, scratch made creative pastries, cookies and cakes, and café style food and beverages. We use organic and Alaska Grown ingredients when possible and have a highly-regarded 12-year reputation for excellence in baked goods, food, and customer service. Located 3 miles from the historic village of Talkeetna, teeming with travelers throughout summer, cozy and quiet in winter. Residents enjoy small-town living in the shadow of North America’s tallest peak, Denali, with unending opportunities for outdoor recreation (hiking, boating, fishing, climbing, skating, cross country skiing, and more).
Applicants should be:
- Over 18. Vaccinated against Covid-19. 2+ years relevant experience.
- Well rounded. Passionate and excited to produce, learn and improve in all aspects of breads and pastries with focus on breads during summer. Deep care for high quality products balanced with accuracy and efficiency.
- Work independently, sometimes alone. Be a friendly, team player. Excellent communication skills, work well with co-workers, hands-on involved owner, seasonal employees, and customers. Accept feedback gracefully. Able to lead, instruct, and encourage summer bakery staff.
- Perform all tasks with equal effort whether 8 or 80 breads, 30 or 300 cookies, dishes and cleaning, or stacking wood. Help where help is needed. Overtime expected May-September. Weekends required.
- Willing to relocate to an unusual, challenging, beautiful place. Must have reliable vehicle. Comfortable with cold climate and swings of seasonal, tourist economy. Adaptable to dramatic seasonal shifts including different weather, light, people, services, free time, energy and finances.
- 2-year minimum commitment. Wage commensurate with experience, seasonal bonuses, paid time off, discount and meals. Interest in growing with the company, increasing responsibility and possible management.
To apply, send letter of interest and resume including why you would seriously move to rural Alaska to anita@flyingsquirrelcafe.com.